Temecula Valley a Big Winner

Temecula Valley turned in one of the most dominant wrestling performances in school history when it breezed through the Southern Section Southern Division individual championships Saturday at Westminster High.

The Golden Bears had eight finalists, six champions and had 11 of their 14 wrestlers finish among the top five. It added up to 300.5 points and an 84.5-point victory over runner-up Santa Ana Calvary Chapel, which had four champions and eight wrestlers in the top five.

Wrestlers finishing among the top five advanced to the Masters meet on Friday and Saturday at Fountain Valley and Temecula Valley Coach Arnold Alpert says he believes the 11 Golden Bears advancing this year are a school record.

It is the fourth consecutive individual section title for Temecula Valley, which has won nine in the last 11 years. Kipp Bowman of Temecula Valley pinned all four of his opponents in the 140-pound weight class and was selected lower-weights MVP. Three of his four pins came in the first period.

Heavyweight Jordan Blanchard had five pins in five matches and was the most valuable wrestler in the upper weights. Another Temecula Valley wrestler, 160-pounder Ryan Smith, also pinned all of his opponents.

“We wanted to dominate,” Alpert said. “We wanted more. I feel bad for the three that didn’t make it. I think we’re peaking at the right time ... now is the time that really counts.”

-- Peter Yoon

Brothers Blair and Bryan Matsuura of Rolling Hills Estates Peninsula each claimed an individual title to lead the Panthers to the Central Division championship at Brea Olinda. The brothers embraced after the awards ceremony as Bryan, a senior, gave Blair a kiss on the cheek.

“Last year when I started wrestling we got a lot closer,” said Blair, a sophomore who pinned four of his five opponents, three of them in the first period. The Panthers, who finished runner-up to North Torrance the previous two seasons, placed a tournament-high five wrestlers in the finals.

Loara came away with a tournament-best three individual titles, and Santa Monica and Peninsula had two each.

Brett Gurrola of North Torrance pinned all five of his opponents to claim the 135-pound title and the lower-weight MVP title. Dylan Giagna of Santa Monica turned in four pins and a technical fall for the 160-pound title and the upper-weight MVP title.

-- Chuck Schilken

Huntington Beach Edison gave departing Coach Dan Rawlins quite the send-off, winning the Coastal Division title in dramatic fashion as Romney Fuga defeated Rosemead’s Anthony Gonzales, 7-0, in the heavyweight final. The Chargers edged Rosemead, 202-199, with the decision to earn the school’s first divisional title.

“When they told me I just needed the win and not a pin, that took the pressure off,” said Fuga. “It feels good.”

Rawlins, a walk-on coach who was an assistant for three years before taking over as head coach of the program six seasons ago.

-- Josh Gajewski